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Visteon Corp. claims its in-car wireless device charging system is an industry first in that it complies with both of the main standards: Power Matters Alliance (PMA)/Powermat and Wireless Power Consortium (WPC)/Qi.

With the recent publishing of four technical reports, SAE International now offers a series of recommended practices designed to enhance overall ambulance safety in several areas, including patient compartments and occupant restraint.

Johnson Controls has opened a new crash test facility at its automotive seating headquarters in Plymouth, MI. One of the highlights of the facility is a Seattle Safety ServoSled that allows the automotive supplier to offer what it claims is the most accurate, standardized safety testing of seats globally through collaboration with its other testing facilities located in Burscheid, Germany; Changchun and Shanghai, China; and Yokohama, Japan.

Kia has released details of the new improvements made to the third-generation Sorento’s cabin. A new modern, wrap-around dashboard has been added, as well as soft-touch materials and a range of advanced, onboard technologies, according to the company.

Ford Motor Co. debuted this week the only five-row side-curtain airbag in the automotive industry, according to a company release. The airbag, which is featured in the 2015 Transit 15-passenger wagon, is the largest in any Ford vehicle.

SAE International is gauging interest in development of an SAE recommended practice addressing the relationship between engine status and airbag functionality. Keith Wilson, Technical Project Manager, SAE Global Ground Vehicle Standards, wrote in a letter to members of relevant committee members under the SAE Motor Vehicle Council: "If sufficient industry support exists, our intent is to develop an SAE recommended practice for a minimum time or a motion-based metric for airbag systems to be active after ignition cutoff or loss of power.

The 2015 Mustang will feature a new design of an inflatable knee airbag, Ford announced June 20. Packaged inside the glove box, the new airbag provides protection comparable to its traditional counterparts, according to a release from Ford, but is 65% lighter and features an inflator that is 75% smaller, allowing for more room in the interior.

TRW Automotive has launched its next-generation seatbelt retractor, the Floating Spool 1 (FS1), which offers reduced weight (about 15% lighter) and smaller dimensions compared to previous systems, according to the company. Production of the global FS1 technology starts in the second quarter of 2014.

SAE International and the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) have signed a two-year memorandum of understanding to build a cooperative partnership in the standardization of vehicle electronics and consumer electronics products to improve the driving experience.

Volvo is making Dirac's "active acoustic treatment of the listening space" technology (called Unison) available in the new XC90 with the Bowers & Wilkins audio system. According to Dirac, Unison co-optimizes the loudspeakers in frequency, time, and space for the "best possible bass integration and clarity."

Visteon's Horizon cockpit concept blends three emerging technologies—including 3-D gesture recognition—to transform the way a driver controls features such as interior temperature, audio, and navigation.

Design groups want chips that save space and reduce weight, so Maxim has focused on these challenges with a pair of products that reduce board space and let engineers transition to lighter-weight cabling.

A server is the central point for all Generation 2 Blue Link communication, giving Hyundai early, direct access to customers. The updated Blue Link now has Google Destination Search, a 3G modem, and a larger touchscreens in control stack.

In a deal that will create the world's largest automotive interiors company, U.S.-based Johnson Controls is forming a joint venture with China-based Yanfeng Automotive Trim Systems Co., Ltd., which is a unit of automaker Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp.

It incorporates innovative technologies for off-road use including capability for driver to operate vehicle from outside, enhanced terrain response system, and seemingly transparent hood to see road surface under vehicle.

A new occupant-protection technology from TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. has the passenger-seat airbag deploying from the headliner instead of the dashboard. It is being launched on the Citroën C4 Cactus.

The technology organization has developed an innovative process to help reduce the cost of composite component use. Features normally added in a separate operation, such as clips and inserts for threaded fasteners, can now be molded directly onto the back of high-quality composite panels, producing a more cost-effective part than a conventional bonded assembly.